Varicose Veins In Fibromyalgia

Statistics show that almost half of US population suffers from varicose veins. Most of these people are more than the age of 50. So what are varicose veins and how is this linked to fibromyalgia?

What Causes Varicose Veins

The chambers and muscles of your heart act like pumps, which pushes blood into your arteries. Moreover, the valves in your veins control the flow of blood that goes into the body and into your heart. If these valves do not function properly, blood gets pooled into the veins. When this happens, they get engorged and eventually become swollen.

The veins that are engorged tend to develop in the legs. These veins resemble that of bulging cords and spread all over the skin. This makes them easily visible. Usually, these veins are painless. However, they could trigger a burning or tingling sensation in the affected vein. Sometimes, they result in a throbbing pain all over the legs.

There are various factors that can trigger the development of varicose veins:

Age is often the biggest factor. As we grow older, the valves in our veins start to weaken.

Genetics is also another factor. Those with a history of varicose veins in their family will most likely develop them as well

Sedentary lifestyle can also play a part since being overweight puts pressure to the veins and weaken the valves.

These risk factors also tend to play a role in fibromyalgia, which makes varicose veins a serious concern for people with the condition.

Varicose Veins And Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia does not directly cause the development of varicose veins. However, fibromyalgia patients are at high risk to developing varicose veins. Women are more likely to develop these vein problems. Similarly, women are also at high risk to developing fibromyalgia. The difficulties that fibromyalgia patients go through also make them vulnerable to vein problems. Since people with fibromyalgia are more sensitive to pain, the pain caused by varicose veins may be more intense for those with fibromyalgia.

What Are Your Treatment Options?

Fortunately, there are ways to treat varicose veins. If you want to minimize the pain, the best approach is to wear compression socks. These socks work by pushing the blood away from your legs. Moreover, elevating your legs above your head can also help in relieving the pressure. However, surgical options are available for more serious cases of varicose veins.